Maleficent Is an Interesting Version of the Classic Fairy Tale

I have never seen Sleeping Beauty.  There it is I said it.  It was a Disney movie I never had any desire to watch and so when I brought home Maleficent staring Angelina Jolie I had little knowledge about the story besides the fact that Maleficent was the evil witch who put a spell on sleeping beauty.  As a result, I got to view the film with fresh eyes and found it to be an interesting take on the old fairy tale.  The focus is entirely on Maleficent as we learn about her backstory and magical home.  While princess Aurora is a character, she feels more like a side note.  A chapter in the story of Maleficent whose relationship with Aurora’s father King Stefan goes back farther than expected.  Perhaps the best aspect of the film is seeing a classic Disney villain portrayed as the heroine, villain and victim.  We sympathize with her and seeing the events unfold from her perspective allows the viewer to form different opinions about the original story.  All major characters are present including Prince Philip and the three fairies (though their names have been changed for some reason).  While the film has its dark moments, it’s overall an uplifting tale with a standard Disney happy ending which makes it enjoyable for both children and parents.  I was skeptical at first about Jolie who is so recognizable I thought it would take away from her performance.  While it was initially difficult to get past the fact that you’re staring at Angelina Jolie in a fancy costume, she eventually gets it right and you find yourself focused on the character and not her (something I find she has had difficulty with in past films).  I won’t give away too many aspects of the film beyond the core plot elements everyone is aware of because the areas where the story deviates are what make it such a unique adaptation.  I would love to see Disney continue in this vein and see other classic tales like Snow White told from the perspective of the villain.  It not only gives a different point of view but breathes new life into a timeless classic.

Noah - Slightly Embellished, But That's a Good Thing

Noah was a standard Russell Crowe epic with breathtaking effects and a story which was slightly embellished (this is Hollywood we’re talking about).  Personally, I am not a religious person so I had little knowledge of the story of Noah and the Ark besides the two of every animal detail which I’m sure almost everyone is aware of.  That being said, the film didn't

seem to stem too far from truth.  The tale begins with Noah as a boy witnessing the death of his father.  It shows that from an early age, Noah was made brutally aware of the evils of humanity.  Fast forward many years and we find an adult Noah who is living peacefully with his wife Naameh (played by Jennifer Connelly) and their three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth.  After having several dreams of a great flood and witnessing the growth of a flower at his feet, Noah decides to take his family to seek advice from his grandfather Methuselah.  After escaping the clutches of the same ruthless band of people who had a hand in his father’s death, Noah and his family make it to the scorched land inhabited by the Watchers, fallen angels who've lost touch with the Creator because of their willingness to help Adam and Eve after the Fall.  Along the way, they pick up the orphaned Ila (played by Emma Watson) and welcome her into their family.  After reaching the top of the mountain, Methuselah (expertly portrayed by Anthony Hopkins) informs Noah that he was chosen by the Creator to save the animals, the so called “innocents” from a great flood which is supposed to wipe out the Creator’s biggest mistake, humans.  Noah accepts and after planting a seed from the Garden of Eden, given to him by Methuselah, witnesses the immediate growth of a massive forest.  Upon seeing the work of the creator right before their eyes, the Watchers agree to help Noah build the Ark.  Throughout the course of the film Noah is faced with difficult choices and does his best to carry out the Creator’s wishes, even when it means potentially killing members of his own family.  While at first I was skeptical, the movie turned out to be very entertaining.  I enjoyed learning the back story of Noah’s lineage and Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Methuselah is worth the price of admission in and of itself.  Stunning visual effects and some emotionally charged moments between Noah and other members of his family contribute to the success of this film for sure.  Not only that, but the embellishments make the film feel more like a Sci-Fi/Fantasy movie than a biblical epic which is a good thing because if you are not a religious person, the movie can be a little much.  However, as with other stories from the Old Testament the fantastical elements make for a compelling and captivating film which was fun to watch and didn't just feel like a Sunday school lesson.

Man with the Iron Fists - Great Action, Sub-Par Story

      I wasn’t sure how I felt after I finished watching “The Man with the Iron Fists” but disappointed was certainly a word that crossed my mind.  Visually the film is beautiful with incredible costumes and environments.  Performances by Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu are top notch and help to move the story line forward during times of poor writing and a lack of plot direction.  I think overall I just expected more out of this movie.  With Eli Roth as a co-writer I definitely expected WAY more out of the script.  Having loved the Hostel movies and many other examples of Roth’s work, the lack of a compelling story was difficult to overlook.  However, the martial arts are great and the film accomplishes its goal of acting as an homage to classic kung fu movies (to an extent).  The film has many similarities to the Mortal Kombat movies and franchise, focusing on elaborate fantasy characters fighting it out to the death for honor, glory, and  love.  If martial arts are your thing and you happen to be a huge Russell Crowe fan then this could be your new favorite movie.  But if you’re a classic kung fu movie aficionado then you will probably end up on the disappointed end of the spectrum because trust me when I say, it’s no Enter the Dragon.